Viking FFA wraps up year

The evening of June 7 was the annual Garfield-Palouse FFA banquet starting with a potluck dinner.

Following dinner, the opening ceremony was conducted by the 2009-2010 officers team with President Garret Pfaff, Vice President JB Lange, Sentinel Blake Slocum, Reporter Tiona Shea, Treasurer Kristin Nelson and Secretary Katie Dill. Members were then recognized for their accomplishments. Recognition for Greenhand, Chapter Farmer and State Degrees were also presented. A chapter record was also set with 44 awards received throughout the year, one more than last year.

Junior Ben Weagraff, who has performed at State FFA conventions for the past two years and will perform at nationals in October, sang “Only You Could Love Me This Way.”

Sean Neal, 2009-2010 state vice president who was elected as a national FFA officer applicant served as guest speaker at the banquet. The theme of his speech was there is more to be learned from failures in life than successes.

He started a new tradition at Gar-Pal by awarding his FFA embellished Carhartt to an upcoming senior, Tiona Shea.

Scot Cocking, Craig Cochran, Sue Redman, Marie Wallace and Eric and Shelley Slocum were recognized for the support of the chapter.

Final events of the night included a special presentation, new officer inauguration and closing ceremony. The presentation was a picture slide shown by Reporter Tiona Shea which included 120 pictures. Retiring officers, Garret and Katie, announced the new officer team for 2010-2011. The new team includes Sentinel Ben Weagraff, Reporter Kristin Nelson, Treasurer Heidi Jamison, Secretary Tiona Shea, President JB Lange, and for the first time the vice president position was awarded to two individuals, Blake Slocum and Chad Redman.